Ernest – Black Cherry Spice

Cider Profile:

Name: Ernest – Black Cherry Spice
Sampled September 2023

Brand:  Ernest Cider Co.
Type: Flavoured – Black Cherry
Location of Brewing: Bond Head, ON
ABV: 5.5%
Website Link: ernestcider.com
Ingredients: Apples, sugars (black cherry juice,
organic cane sugar, honey), cinnamon, cloves,
star anise, nutmeg, vanilla extract, natural flavours,
sulphites.

Gluten Free: Yes
Sugar Content: N/A

Size(s) available: 473ml (can)
Availability: LCBO and Ernest Online Store
Flavour: Black Cherry + mulling spices
Colour:  Translucent plum red
Carbonation: Small streaming bubbles


Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Strong mulling spices. Tart cherry. Fleshy apple.
Initial Taste: Medium bite, includes acidity. Quick clove and nutmeg. Tart black cherry juice that includes skin notes. Some fruit tannins.
After Taste: Cherry becomes slightly brighter. Spices ease into more cinnamon and vanilla focus. Apple base peaks through at the finish with fleshy and pulp aspects.
On ice: Slightly thinner body. Not a significant flavour change from ice.

Additional Notes:  Ernest’s Black Cherry Spice cider is in their paraphrased words, “the new alternative to pumpkin spice season”. Loaded with warming spices, it they start off strong with the cloves and nutmeg; easing into softer spice notes like cinnamon in the finish. The black cherry is forceful throughout and it only becomes brighter and less tart as it goes on. The spices and black cherry juice are the stars as promised. The apple is largely overtaken by the bolder elements but does make a short appearance at the finish. A warming cider for colder months and we appreciate it uses the under utilizes black cherry fruit.

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 2.5
Sour – 3.5
Crisp – 3.5
Dry – 3
Fruity – 4

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – KW Craft Cider – Wild Cherry
More Sour – Banjo – Rouge
More Dry – Thornbury – Black Cherry Cider Seltzer 
More Crisp – Slabtown – Legendary Cherry

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